From the Bell County Ky Sheriff's Department - John Melton - BCDC Deputies and USMS Central Kentucky Fugitive task force served an arrest warrant in the Polly Hollow community on 56-year-old John Melton for sex offenses. During the execution of arrest/search warrant, Melton took a substantial amount of time before coming out of the residence. During the incident to arrest, law enforcement units noticed a cell phone case and could not locate the cell phone. Officers obtained

From WRIL The Big One - Andrew Hamlett - BCDC Late Wednesday afternoon, August 19, 2026, Middlesboro Police were serving what they called "a high-risk" search warrant on an individual identified as Jay Hamlett at an Exeter Avenue address near South 35th Street. Middlesboro Police report that Hamlett was wanted in connection with an incident on Tuesday night, August 18th, that put the safety of three officers in jeopardy. He is facing three counts of wanton endangerment - 1st

From WRIL - The Big One - In regard to the non-partisan Middlesboro City Council race to be decided on November 3rd... On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, another candidate for the nine seat race has decided to withdraw from the lineup of those filing earlier this year. Omar S. Omar stated in a Facebook past that he made the "difficult decision to withdraw from the upcoming election. Balancing my work commitments, family time with my son, and personal matters requires my full foc

From WRIL The Big One - Wiley D. Pittman - BCDC As we previously reported on Saturday, July 11, 2026, around 5:00 p.m., Middlesboro Police/Fire/EMS responded to a reported shooting near Bell County Coal on Highway 74. Once on scene, it was discovered that the victim, 38-year-old Danny Brown Jr., was being driven to Middlesboro ARH Hospital by the alleged shooter, 56-year-old Wiley Denzil Pittman, his stepfather. At 5:02 pm Kentucky State Police received a request for assistan

From WRIL The Big One - On August 5, 2026, the Bell County Grand Jury met to hear evidence against several individuals presented by local law enforcement. Among them were three men facing charges involving the 606 Pred Hunters. The charges stem from the men believing they were talking to underage children online. After communicating sexually, they set up meeting places with the juveniles. In reality, the men were communicating with decoys from the 606 and were later confro

From WRIL The Big One - Hayden Baker - BCDC Sunday afternoon, August 16, 2026, Pineville Police responded to a George Martin Drive address where a caller reported that an individual had forced his way into an apartment while armed. Upon arrival, Pineville Officer Justin Patterson states that 18-year-old Hayden Baker of Kettle Island had already been in the home with his juvenile girlfriend. The officer states in the citation that Baker unlawfully held the girl against her wi

From KSP Post 10 - On August 14, 2026, at approximately 8:41 p.m., Knox County 911 contacted Kentucky State Police Post 10 Dispatch requesting assistance with a possible fatal collision on Little Indian Creek Road in Knox County. Trooper Ben Meadows, Trooper Brian Nantz, Sergeant Bobby Roberts, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Knox County Rescue Squad responded to the scene. Upon arrival, Trooper Meadows located a red Dodge pickup truck overturned in the creek. Members o

From KSP Post 11 - Jack D. Kelsay - PCJ The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 11 London arrested a Somerset man for assaulting a 2-year-old juvenile. On August 13, 2026, KSP Post 11 London received a call from Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital regarding serious injuries to an unresponsive two-year-old child. Due to the extent of those injuries, the juvenile was flown to the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, where it remains in critical condition. Preliminary

From KSP Post 11 - Jonathan D. Hacker - LCJ The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 11 London has made an arrest in reference to a ten-year-old missing person investigation. In July of 2016, Cecil Burkhart, 34 years old, of Manchester, Ky, was reported missing by his brother and sister-in-law after not hearing from Mr. Burkhart for about two weeks. In August of 2026, KSP Detectives received several tips regarding the disappearance of Mr. Burkhart. Through those tips and investi

From WRIL The Big One - Brian K Taylor - CCJ As we originally reported, on Tuesday, July 13, 2023, Claiborne County Lt./Detective Jason Henegar charged Brian Keith Taylor of New Tazewell with sex offenses regarding human trafficking. At the time, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department was conducting a human trafficking operation at a home in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. The operation focused on “individuals purchasing commercial sex and individuals that engaged in the traffi

From WRIL The Big One - On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Judge Keith Nagle decided the status of the Bell County May primary election results for Magistrate District 4. This was after one of three candidates challenged the vote. Considered by the circuit court judge was the petition of Kenny Vanover against respondents Bell County Board of Elections and Kevin Barnett. The essence of Vanover’s claim is based on KRS 117.255 that “No person, other than the election officers, challe

From WRIL - The Big One - Tyler Riddle - BCDC According to a citation, on Saturday, August 8th at approximately 6:30 p.m., Middlesboro Officer Gabe Price made a traffic stop on Winchester Avenue on a Chevy Trailblazer. This was after observing one of three passengers not wearing a seatbelt. The driver was cited for the seatbelt infraction and was asked by the officer for consent to search the vehicle, which she granted. During the search, the officer states that the passenge

From WRIL The Big One - On Friday afternoon August 7, 2026, Middlesboro Police executed a search warrant at the Exter Avenue residence of 34-year-old Larry K. Presnell III. According to the citation of Lt./Det Barry Cowan, during the search officers found "countless bags" of drugs including Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Fentanyl. Also found was a Davis 25 caliber handgun. This was after a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking. Parolee Presnell had previously been convic

From The Bell County Ky Sheriff's Department - Johnny Ray Gambrel - BCDC On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Bell County Dispatch received a call of an individual, identified as 52-year-old Johnny Ray Gambrel of Pineville, Ky., cursing and throwing things at vehicles near the park on Greencamp Road. Gambrel, nine miles from his own residence, also threatened a nearby family, including children, on their Wagoner Lane property saying he was going to kill them. Detective Hunter Luttrell

From WRIL The Big One - Mayor Joe Brooks Tragic news out of Claiborne County, Tennessee. As we reported late Friday night July 24, 2026, there was a serious accident on Highway 33 in Union County involving a motorcycle at approximately 11:05pm. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the operator of the 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, identified as 56-year-old Claiborne County Mayor Joe Brooks, was traveling northbound on Highway 33 in Union County between Beach Island

From Appalachia Narcotics Investigations - MIDDLESBORO, Ky. — Five individuals have been sentenced to federal prison following a lengthy drug trafficking investigation conducted by Appalachia Narcotics Investigations (ANI) targeting the distribution of methamphetamine in Bell and Harlan counties. The investigation began in late 2023 and continued through late 2024, focusing on drug trafficking activity in the Middlesboro area of Bell County. As the investigation progressed, d

From WRIL - The Big One - Jimmy Brian Baker - BCDC According to the citation, Sunday night July 19th, Middlesboro Police Officer James Taulbee and Sgt. Jake Quillen received information on alleged sexual interactions between 46-year-old Jimmy Brian Baker and a female victim who was 16 at the time of the incident. Officer Taulbee states their investigation determined that Baker and a family friend contacted and had further communication with the juvenile numerous times via ele

From WRIL - The Big One - Stock graphic According to the report obtained by WRIL, on Thursday July 16, 2026 at 7:37am, Middlesboro Police were dispatched to a 45th Street residence in reference to a dog bite. Officer Kenny Vanover made contact with the victim suffering from a serious facial wound to her lip and cheek. The officer asked the woman what had happened and she pointed to a male brindle-colored dog standing in the roadway. The woman went on to say she saw the dog

From WRIL The Big One - Jack Rikki Hopper - CCJ 8th Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler has filed criminal information charging 28-year-old Jack Rikki Hopper of Speedwell with Voluntary Manslaughter in regard to a family member's death with evidence that recently came to light. Documents state that prior to the finding of this information, on or about May 15, 2017 in Claiborne County, that Hopper did "unlawfully, feloniously, and intentionally or knowingly kill 42

From The BSCO and USMS - Ova Collett - BCDC On Wedneday July 15, 2026, the Bell County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), with the assistance of the Whitley County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), Pineville Police Department (PPD), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) - Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force (CKFTF) London Office, located and arrested Ova Brandon Collett after a 2 month long fugitive investigation on the 4400 Block of Lot Mud Creek Road, Williamsburg, KY. Collett was wa